DEQ and Groundwater Management

Interesting to note the Environmental Quality Commission meeting agenda for this week includes an informational item about the Lower Umatilla Groundwater Management Area (staff report is available here).  The opening of the staff report states, "Oregon’s 1995 Groundwater Protection Act requires DEQ to declare a 

groundwater management area if groundwater contamination, resulting at least in part from nonpoint source activities, exceeds certain contamination levels." The staff report goes on to say that it is worth continuing to use voluntary methods to control contamination in the region even though groundwater nitrate levels have not declined and in fact show increasing trends. 

Perhaps I noticed this item because within the same week I received a notice that the DEQ is holding a public meeting about establishing a steering committee for what they are calling the S. Deschutes/N. Klamath Groundwater Protection Project.  On the map on the web site for this project it shows a statewide map of the incidence of detected nitrate-nitrogen levels in groundwater around the state and there several bright red spots of 10+mg/L around the state.  

What does a Groundwater Management Area get us as citizens of Oregon?  Voluntary action while groundwater contamination increases .... establishing yet another steering committee while groundwater contamination continues ... sometimes it is time to call a spade a spade and put that spade to work improving things.

Greenwalls

Thanks to Rainbow Todd for this info:

I am intrigued by the concept but admit that I found the blog site referenced annoying in that it only talked briefly about the potential environmental benefits of such an installation, the sum total that I found was:

"... located at the Vancouver International (YVR) Airport’s SkyTrain station.  The first Canadian airport to install a greenwall, international visitors to this beautiful city are greeted by the living tapestry, just one of the sustainable initiatives and ecological solutions for the airport.  Since YVR is situated within the estuary of the Fraser River on Sea Island, a large conservation project was created here to offset the environmental impact the airport causes, including a wildlife preserve and public beaches."

The blogger tended to go about the architectural aesthetic so interested persons will have to look elsewhere for substantive information.  I wonder if this gets rainwater, greywater...?

EPA Launches Web Forum on How to Best Protect America’s Waters

Unfortunately I got this too late to post and/or participate but it is interesting to read the comments that resulted from this:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on how the agency can better protect and improve the health of our waters.  For a two-week period, EPA is holding a Web discussion forum on how the nation can better manage some of the most significant water pollution problems facing our nation. The feedback received on the online forum will help shape the discussion at EPA’s upcoming conference in April, Coming Together for Clean Water, where EPA will engage approximately 100 executive and local level water leads on the agency’s clean water agenda.

"We look forward to reviewing the ideas and feedback from the public,” said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “This online discussion is for anyone who wants to share their best solutions for restoring healthy waters and creating sustainable communities across the country."

EPA wants to receive input from water professionals, advocates, and anyone interested in water quality issues about best solutions—from planning, scientific tools, low impact development, to green infrastructure and beyond—in controlling water pollution and how resources can be better focused to improve these efforts.

To join the discussion: http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/

Greywater research from Colorado State

I noticed that the Oregon Onsite Wastewater Association was holding its annual conference in Portland this year. On the agenda were many things related to wastewater (perhaps a "duh" statement) but one item that caught my eye was a couple of presentations by Sybil Sharvell, Ph.D., and Larry Roesner, Ph.D. Dr. Sharvell's talk in particular was interesting because there was some data about cost savings for households in avoided sewer charges and some water quality data. The other interesting thing was that they avoided the use of kitchen sink wastewater altogether. Kitchen sinks were not included in their definition of greywater because greywater that includes kitchen sink water contained organics, nutrients and pathogens at levels that rival blackwater. Therefore, their thinking was, a wastewater stream that would meet the definition of residential strength wastewater should be treated in a full-service wastewater treatment system. The corollary being that the resulting greywater from this approach could be reused on a property with minimal treatment.

Oregon Environment eNewsletter - Spring 2010

This is supposed to be available at Oregon DEQ's site but the link appears to be broken:

In This Issue

* DEQ Launches 'Oregon Carbon Calculator'

* DEQ Works to Improve Water Quality Standards

* Chemical-free Lawns Benefit Kids, Pets and Environment

DEQ Launches 'Oregon Carbon Calculator'

A new interactive tool on the DEQ website lets Oregon residents measure their carbon footprint and discover ways to improve it. The Oregon Carbon Calculator calculates all direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from personal transportation, household energy use, and consumption of food, goods and services.

Find out how your household's carbon footprint compares to households of similar size and income. And learn how you can take action to reduce your carbon footprint from a number of specific ideas and strategies.

The Oregon Carbon Calculator is made possible through Oregon DEQ's support of the CoolClimate Network, a program of the University of California, Berkeley, and through financial support by the California Air Resources Board and the CoolCalifornia.org partnership. Oregon DEQ selected this calculator for its approach and depth in calculating human impacts to climate change.

DEQ Works to Improve Water Quality Standards

DEQ is responsible for establishing water quality standards and policies to protect aquatic and human life in Oregon. Staff are busy working on a number of important water quality improvement projects for Oregon, including the following:

Reducing persistent pollutants. DEQ has prepared a draft legislative report detailing sources of 118 persistent toxics in Oregon waterways and measures to help reduce them. Public information sessions will take place throughout the state in early April. DEQ will submit the final report to the Oregon Legislature on June 1. More information.

Upper Klamath, Lost River Subbasins. A plan to improve water quality in the Upper Klamath and Lost River subbasins is out for public comment. Due to questions about water availability in the Klamath basin, DEQ has extended the comment period through May 27. More information.

Turbidity standards. DEQ is updating the water quality standard addressing turbidity, a measure of water clarity. Once technical work is completed, DEQ will convene a work group and develop a revised rule on the standard – sometime in late 2011. More information.

Standards for new fish consumption rate. DEQ continues to work with communities and other interested groups to develop new standards regulating toxic emissions into waterways to protect human health based on a higher fish consumption rate. More information.

Willamette basin streamside habitat study. In early March, DEQ released a report estimating it could cost up to $1.2 billion to restore streamside vegetation throughout the Willamette basin. The loss in streamside vegetation -- due to pollution stemming from farming, forestry and urban activities – has resulted in increased polluted runoff into streams, leading to increased water temperature and diminished aquatic life. View the report.

Chemical-free Lawns Benefit Kids, Pets and Environment

It may surprise you to learn that the best weed control for a lawn is provided by healthy soil, not synthetic fertilizers and herbicides. Some lawn chemicals actually kill the soil microbes necessary for a healthy lawn.

Using a "weed and feed" product to fertilize a lawn also broadcasts toxic herbicides across the entire lawn. These herbicides can stay there for weeks. Rain or watering can wash the chemicals into storm drains that lead to rivers and streams where fish are at risk. Moreover, herbicides are toxic chemicals that can be unsafe for children and pets.

There are safe and healthy ways to care for your lawn without the use of toxic herbicides. Visit DEQ’s Healthy Lawns, Healthy Families website to learn about natural lawn care and how lawn-care habits affect water quality.

Calendar of Events

Visit our online calendar for more information on these and other events. 

April 5-7: Information meetings in Eugene, Medford, Bend and Portland on Draft Report on Reducing Persistent Pollutants in State Waters.

April 16: State Furlough Day. All DEQ offices and vehicle emissions inspection stations closed.

April 26-27: Public meetings in Salem and Eugene on Willamette Valley Field Burning Rule Revisions.  

April 28-29: Oregon Environmental Quality Commission meeting, Coos Bay. Details to come.

June 18: State Furlough Day. All DEQ offices and vehicle emissions inspection stations closed.  

* * *

Got Household Toxic Waste?  New clickable map shows collection events throughout state

Many of us have products at home containing hazardous substances. Examples include pesticides, herbicides, solvents, paints, motor oil and antifreeze. It’s important to dispose of these products properly to avoid contaminating our water supply or threatening the health of sanitation workers.

Never dispose of household toxic trash down the sink, on the ground, down a storm drain, or in your garbage can. Instead, take your unwanted products to a household hazardous waste collection site.

You can use our online clickable map to see when a household hazardous waste collection event will be in your area of the state.

Learn more about household hazardous waste and what you can do to minimize it in your home.

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Sending this quarterly newsletter electronically rather than in hard copy format saves about 67,000 sheets of paper a year. This equals an estimated 17 million BTUs of energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 2.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (240 gallons of gasoline). Please don’t print this newsletter unless necessary.

Help Oregon Develop an Integrated Water Resources Strategy

Just a reminder that OWRD's Spring 2010 open houses are coming up!

Four state agencies have been given responsibility for developing an integrated water resources strategy for Oregon by 2012, with 5‐year updates thereafter. This spring, these agencies, along with commissioners and local partners, will host a series of evening open houses throughout Oregon
communities, serving three purposes:

 
1. To ensure that participants receive information about the statewide strategy, the project timeline, and the many opportunities to participate.

2. To gather input from community members, in terms of water resource challenges, opportunities, and recommended actions.

3. To highlight successful, local examples of water resource solutions currently underway in Oregon communities.

Various stations will allow participants to engage in individual conversations and facilitated discussions, listen to presentations, and to ask questions about current issues and local projects. A “kid’s center” will allow younger attendees to participate in water‐related activities.

More info at:

http://www1.wrd.state.or.us/pdfs/2_12_10_Briefer.pdf